MADISON, Wis. – As we honor 50 years of Earth Day, it’s more important than ever to care for one another and the planet we all call home.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is entrusted to protect the people’s resources. It’s a job we take very seriously. To help the cause, the DNR Bureau of Law Enforcement is hiring for its next class of conservation wardens.
The mission of conservation wardens is to protect the environment and Wisconsin’s natural resources and those who work and play in the outdoors in parks, forests, trails, open areas and waters across the state. Conservation wardens also are responsible for delivering all law enforcement services on state parks, forests and trails in Wisconsin.
“Law enforcement work as a conservation warden is public service that is rewarding, fulfilling and never boring,” said Marcus Medina, DNR Conservation Warden and Acting Assistant Training Director. “We protect our precious natural resources and those who work in them or enjoy them in a wide range of outdoor activities.”
The loss of jobs nationwide due to the COVID-19 public health emergency may be prompting some to consider a career change, Medina said, who has been a warden since 2015.
“Working in the state parks, forests, and trails is a unique experience mixing both traditional and natural resources law enforcement duties,” Medina said.
The DNR’s Bureau of Law Enforcement is home to the Conservation Warden Service. The Warden Service performs the law enforcement function within the DNR and is dedicated to protecting the people and natural resources of Wisconsin.
Born in a refugee camp in Thailand, Vong Xiong became a DNR conservation warden in 2016 in Black River Falls, Jackson County.
“What we do now is going to set a precedence of expectations regarding how we conserve our natural resources for the future,” Xiong said. “My best day as a warden is knowing I made a difference. Nothing lasts forever if you don’t take care of it, and that’s why I became a Wisconsin conservation warden.”
The Warden Service also works cooperatively with other law enforcement agencies at the local, state and federal level on a variety of law enforcement and emergency response initiatives.
Conservation wardens protect, enhance and promote public safety and our natural resources through enforcement, education and community involvement and encourage everyone to be stewards of our natural resources for future generations.
These new conservation wardens will be part of the class of 2021. Training is scheduled to begin after hiring on Oct. 26, 2020. Part-time conservation warden positions are also available.
“Simply apply for the full-time position,” Medina said. “This year, we will be inviting candidates from the applicants for the full-time position to compete for both full-time and part-time positions. Commonly, the experiences and knowledge gained during part-time employment can lead to full-time employment.”
Learn more about this remarkable career here.
The application deadline is April 26. Apply here.
